Casing head



June 8, 1937. RECTOR 2,083,090

cAsING HEAD u Filed Dec. 9, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 1 June 8, 1937.

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L. L. RECTOR CASING HEAD Filed Deo. 9, i935 2 sheets-sheet 2 '54 l C 52 54 5, 50 5l :55 55 Z/ /7 l i5 ZZ l 20 /e Z l f4 /5 I I c 4f I I f, fgf.

gmt/Wto@ HI/,9:4166 L. /Zeme Patented June'v 8, 1937 Application December o, 1935, serial No. 53,603 5 claimt.v (ci. 16e-15) This inventionrelates *.to new and useful improvements in casing heads.

This application Vis filed as a continuation in part of my co-pending application Serial Numpartly in section and showing `an adapter, constructed in accordance with the invention,

mounted on the base member of the casing head,

' and also showing a gate valve and blowout pre- 5 'ber 671,819 led May 19, 1933. venter mounted above the casing head, with the one object of the invention is to provide an inner. casing being run into the well, improved casing head having means for carry- A Figure 4 isa' View Similar t0 Figure 3 and ing a blowout preventer, or other safety device, ShcWing the supporting ring inserted n the base whereby the casing may be run through said de# member 0f the casing head,

1o vice and head without danger vof the easing being Figure 4d is a vertical, sectional view of the 1oA blown from the well. anged adapter,

An important object of the invention is vto Figure 5 is a VieW ShOWing a medied ferm 0f provide an upwardly extending screw-threaded the adapter,

nipple at-the upper end of the casing head, said Figure 6 is an isometric view of the split ring, r

nipple being either'made integral with the head Figure '7 is a transverse, Vertical. Sectional View 15 or constructed separately and arranged to be of the casing'head having an adapter made in# connected to the base of the head in place of tegral With its upper end, and f the retaining cap and gland thereof, whereby a Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7, and suitable safety device through which the e ng showing the cap and adapter raised fromthefbase may be run is had, member of the'casing head to permit the inser- 20 Still another object of the invention is to p oticn 0r removal 0f the Sullpcrting ring.

vide an improved flanged adapter which may In the drawings, the numeral l0 designates a have any desired inner diameter and which cylindrical bOdy which `furnis the base member may be bolted to the base of a casing head, 0f the easing head- This bcdy'iS DI'OVded With whereby a suitable safety device may bemounted a reduced 10Wer end il Which iS externally s creW- 25- thereon, said adapter being arranged topermit threaded, whereby said body may be screwed easy insertion of the split sealing and supporting intc the upper end 0f the Outer, OI Surface caS- ring to support the casing after said casing has Ving of the well, vor other support -(n.t ShcWnl been run into the well. An annular outwardly extending iiange I2- is 0 A further object of the invention is to provide formed integral with the upper end of the body. 3o

Ian improved method ofv running tubing into a. and below said ange diametrically ODIJOSte cased well having a casing head which includes, threaded Openings i3 are prcvided- These Openmounting a safety device above said head, runings receive the ends 0f Outlet pipe I4 whereby ning said tubing through said safety device and uid from within the body may be carried outhead, landing the tubing in the casing head, rewardly through said pipe. A split sealing and 35 moving the safety device, and then closing the supporting ring I5 is arranged to seat on the casing head. upper end of the .base member I0, asis clearly vA still further object of the` invention -is to shown in Figure 2.- This supporting ring is conprovide an improved method of running tubing vs'tructed of any-suitable metal and itsunderside '40 through ai casing head which consists in, runwhich engages the upper endof the base member 40 ning said tubing through a safety device and is ground, whereby, leakage of pressure thereby head while retaining the well pressure, thenl supis prevented. The split ring has its inner periph- 'porting the casing in the head and sealing oi ery engaging in a groove I6 formed centrally of said head, and` then removing the safety device, an elongated double collar I1,wherebv said ring whereby the well pressure is controlled throughserves to support said collar axially within the 45 out the operation. f base member. The inner casingA is, of course,

, A construction designed to carry out the `lnthreaded into the collar, whereby said casing is vention will be hereinafter described, together suspended therefrom. A anged cap I8 fits over .with other features of the invention. .the upper end of the ring and' has vits ange :I9

'The inventionwill be more readily understood secured 'to the ange I2 of lthe, base member 50 from a reading of the following specification and II) by suitable'bolts 2,0 and nuts 2I Annular Aby reference t0 the accunlpanying drawings, in packing ringsf 2'2 are interposed betwi n the which an example ofthe invention is shown, and flanges of the cap and the body.v y

wherein: The cap II! has an annular'internal shoulder Figure 1 is an elevation of a casing head, to 23 at its upper end and a suitable packing ring 55 which an adapter, constructed in accordance 24 is seated thereon. A packing. gland 25 hasits with the invention, may be applied, lower end 'engagingthe packing ring 24 to hold Figure 2 is a transverse, vertical sectional view `the saine'in place, and said gland is secured to of the same, the cap I 8 by stud bolts 26 which extend upwardy ly from said cap. Nuts .21 screwed on the upper e0 0 "Figure 3 is a view, partlyin elevation and vention other than as a means for carrying out pressure to the gland and packing ring 2l.

' This structure, which has just been described, is a casing head such as is disclosed in my Patent'No. 1,834,968, issued December' 8,' 1931, and the various parts which have been` so described are merely for purposes of clarity and the particular structureforms no part of the present inthe improved method which will be hereinafter described.

In carrying out'the invention, a flanged adapter 30 isprovided. This ange is clearly shown in Figure 4a and includes an annular base flange 3I with an externally screw-threaded, tapered nipple 32 extending upwardly therefrom. 'I'he flange has a plurality of openings 33 therein and these openings are arranged to register with the openings in the annular ange I2 of the base member I0 when said ange is placed upon the base member. The bore A34 of the adapter is enlarged at its lower end, whereby an internal annular shoulder 35 is formed.

In carrying out my improved method, the -base member I0 of the casing head is screwed into the upper end of the outer casing or surface pipe B (Figure 3). The cap I8 together with the packing gland 25 is then removed from the base member I0 by loosening the bolts 20 and nuts 2 I. The split ring I5 is also removed. The adapter 30 is then positioned on the flange I2 of the base member I Il and the bolts 20 and nuts 2I are again tightened to fasten the adapter to said base member. The parts are then4 in the position shown in Figure 3 with the screwthreade`d nipple of the adapter extending upwardly from the base member of the casing head.` The annular packing rings 22 which are interposed between the -ange I2 and the flange 3I will, of course, prevent a leakage of pressure through vthe space between these flanges. A suitable gate valve C is then screwed'onto the nipple 32 of the adapter 30. A blowout preventer D is then mounted above the valve in the usual manner and thus, it will be seenthat by providing the adapter it is possible to secure the gate valve and blowout preventer above the easing head. It is pointed out that at this time the inner casing has not been run into the well, the` only casing being the outer or surface casing.

Heretofore, yit has been Ythe usual practice to run both the outer and inner casing before securing the safety devices, such as the blowout preventer and gate valve above the casing head. It has been found that by waiting until the casing has been run into the well, there is no way of holding the wellvpressure and as a result this pressure is not only wasted but also causes a fire hazard as well as creating danger of a blowout. Therefore, it isdesirable that the well be held under control during the running of this inner casing.

After the blowout preventer and gate valve have been mounted as hereinbefore described, the

inner casing or tubing A is then lowered through the preventer D, the gate valve. C, and through the casing head base member I0 into the outer or surface casing B. During this lowering operation, the rams E of the blowout preventer will prevent the escape of gas or other well pressure upwardly 'around the inner casing A which is be,- ing lowered, and Willeause the gas, mud, water or other uid within the hole and travelling upwardly through the outer casing B to escape through the outlet pipes I4 provided for this purq pose in the base member I Il of the casing head. This will prevent the gas and other pressure from blowing the inner easing from the well during the lowering operation, and also will eliminate all danger of flrehazard or other disadvantages. It is noted that with the split ring I5 removed from the casing head, there is no obstruction to the lowering of the inner casing A and a. smooth operation is assured.

When the double collar I '|,whichisscrewedonto theupper end of the casing A has been lowered to a height opposite the annular ange 3| of the adapter, the nuts 2U and bolts 2I are removed, andtheadapter'30, together with the valve C and blowout preventerD, are raised, as clearly shown in Figure 4. The split ring I5 is then quickly placed in position on top of the base member III and the-preventer, valve and adapter are again lowered and refastened in position. The enlarged portion of -the bore 34of the adapter 30 engages around the split ring I 5 when in position, and serves to retain said ring in place. The inner periphery of said ring, of course, engages in the groove I6 of the double collar whereby the adapter 30 in which case, the casing head will, from this point on, function in its usual manner.

The cap I8 and packing gland 25 of the' .casing head may then be substituted for the It is, of course, obvious that if it is desired toga() run another string of inner casing, it is only necessary to screw the lower end of another casing head, smaller insize, into the upper end of the double collar I'I. In lsuch case, an adapter would be provided for the base. member of this smaller casing head and the4 running of another string would be accomplished in the same way.

With the method herein described, it will be seen that during the entire. lowering operation of the inner casing, the gas, oil or Well pressure is completely under control. Before' the running operation is commenced, the blowout preventer and gate valve are mounted thereabove to positively shut in the well. The inner casing is run through the blowout preventer and the rams of this preventer positively prevent escape of well pressure. After the inner casing has been lan'ded 'or moved to its proper position,.it is only' necessary to loosen the Abolts 20 and nuts 2I to permit the preventer and gate valve together with the adapter, to be raised vsufficiently to permit insertion of the split ring I5, whereby the inner casing is suspended in the hole. It is then` possible either to replace the adapter, valve and preventer or to remove these parts and attach lcasing, all danger of a blowout-of the inner casing caused by such pressureor a" re due to the sparks igniting leaking gas is eliminated. If the adapter 30 were not provided, the well would be wide open while the inner casing A is b eing run,

and this is one of the disadvantages which the method herein described over'comes. It isto be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to a gate valve or a blowout preventer mounted above the adapter 30, butany suitable safety device may be mounted thereon. In Isome 34. To` permit ,the assembled ring and collar to be loweredv into position, another form of adapte r 40 is provided. 'I'his adapter is similar 'to the adapter 3,0 and is varranged to be attached tol the annular flange I2 of the base member I0 of the casing head in the same way. The only 20 difference in this form is that the bore` 4I of said adapter is of the same diameter throughout its length. This diameterl is slightly larger than the diameter of the split ring I5 when said ring.

is engaging inthe groove I6 of the double collar I'I. 'Thereforegit willbe obvious that when this J adapter is used in place of the adapter 30, it is possible to assemble the ring on the collar I'I before the same is lowered within thev casing head. Insuch event, it is not necessary to re- 30 move the 'boltsv 20 until such time as it is desired to remove the blowout preventer and gate valve., together with said adapter. .This type of adapter 40, eliminates the necessity of separating .Said

adapter from the base member I0 to permit insertion of the'split ring I5, but it is noted that due to the increased diameter of its bore a larger safety-` valve C and blowout preventer D would have to be employed, than in using the same sized adapter 30. Y

The running in and landing of theinner casing, with the well under control at all times, may however be performed with the use of any one of the two adapters.

In Figures? and 8, I have shown a modified form of the invention. In this form the packing gland 25 of the casing head is provided with an upwardly extending nipple 50 which is externally screw-threaded. `It will be obvious that this nipple-takes the place of the adapter, and the gate valve C is attached thereto. In running the inner casing A, with this particular form, the split 'ring' .I5 is omitted by raising the cap I9 from the base member 'by removing the nuts 2I.-- The inner casing A isv then runinto the'w'ell in the same way as in the other forms. When the dou- 'ble collar I1 on the string A is loweredthe proper distance, the cap I8 is raised Vandthe-split ring I5 is inserted. The cap is' then replaced and the nuts 2l tightened on the bolts 42ll to reassemble thecasing head. lIn this form, it is only necessary to then unscrew the blowout pre- Venter and safety valve wheneverdesired and the casinghead remains in its assembled position at 'all times.

vThe provision of the adapters, ,or of the .threaded nipple l50 at the upper end of the gland 25, permits a safety device tobemounted above the casing head during the period when the inner casing string A is being run into' the well. As a result thewell is under control at all times which eliminates -the danger of damage from blowout, Aor afire due to escaping gas. It also prevents leakage or waste'of the gas pressure,

What I claim and desire' to secure by Letters 75 Patent is:

` for quick separation member having a recess overhanging the ring 1. A wen structure including, a casing headl having a lower member adapted to be fastened on a casing and an upper member bolted thereto for rapid separation without rotation, packing between said head members, the upper head member having an upwardly. extending annular screw threaded portion and an annular ring recess at the lower end of its bore,'the lower member having a ring seat at its top immediately below the recess of the upper member.

2. A well structure including, la casing head' member having a full size opening f or running drilling tools therethrough, a pipe supporting ring seat at the upper end of the head member.ex,

p tending outwardly from the'bo're'ofsaid head,

a flanged adapter mounted on the head member so as to expose the ringI seat and screw thread/ed.

at its upper end., said adapter having a boreample l to pass well tools therethrough, and a safety device arranged to pass oil tools therethrough and screwed onto the adapter, the adapter being arranged to be separated from the casing head to vpermit a split pipe-supporting ring to be mounted on the ring seat.

3. The combination of a blowout preventer, a

gate valve, a casing head, and an adapter having` an outwardly directed `flange, the casing having an annular ring seat directed outwardly from its bore for receiving a split pipe-supporting ring',` the preventer, gate valve, head and adapter each having a bore ample to pass drilling tools therethrough, means for fastening the adapter to Ithe casing head by the flange of said adapter, the gate valve being mounted on the adapter so as to be in proximity to the casing head and the blowout preventer beingl'mounted von the valve, the elements being readily` 'separable without rotation for upward movement of the adapter, valve and preventer, whereby the ring seat of the head is exposed for the rapid mounting of a pipe-supporting ,ring and the subsequent lowering and securing of the elements, and packing between the` separable elements to form a fluid-tight joint.

4. A well structure including, a casing head member adapted to be fastenedon acasing and A having a ring seat at its top extending outwardly from. itsI bore, an annular adapter having a base flange mounted on the member. packingbetween the member and the adapter, bolts connecting the member and the adapter flange providing for quick 'separation without rotation, the adapter having ay recess at the bottom of its bore overhanging ,the` ring seat for receiving la pipe supporting ring and also having screw threads at its upper. end for attaching a safety device thereon. 5.`A well structure including,'a casing head member .adapted to be fastened on a casing and l having a ring seat at its top extending outwardly from its bore, a cap member having a base flange mountedon the head member; packing betlween the members, bolts connecting the headmember and the base flange of the cap member providing without rotation, the cap Alar exterior flange intermediate the top and bottom of the adapter, and bolts for securing said flange to the cap member. 

